Rose in No-Man's Land

43 Por una Cabeza

Xia Xingmian nodded crazily, choked up, and trembled as she tried to say "I do."

However, as soon as she opened her mouth, the first word barely escaped her lips, and when she reached out to hug Tao Ye, she suddenly grasped at nothing.

In the previous moment, the woman who had been softly lying on her was like water, and with a "poof," she scattered into a wisp of lingering smoke.

In that moment of grasping at emptiness, Xia Xingmian suddenly opened her eyes wide. She gasped for air, staring at the empty ceiling, soaked in sweat.

It was just a dream...

This endless dream was driving her crazy, the feelings that felt so real just a moment ago turned out to be false.

She couldn't help but wonder whether she could wake up again, or if she was still uncertain whether she was in a dream at that moment or if she had woken up.

She climbed out of bed and hurried to the bathroom, splashing a handful of cold water on her face. Lifting her head and looking at her dripping face in the mirror, she raised her hand and gave herself two hard slaps.

Smack! Smack!

The stinging pain spread through her.

Still dazed, a faint ringtone came from the nightstand in her bedroom.

Acting almost on instinct, she unsteadily walked back, picking up her phone and answering it without thinking, placing it against her ear.

"Hello?"

A voice on the other end said: "Do you want to come celebrate the New Year with me?"

Xia Xingmian was taken aback: "What?"

With renewed focus, she concentrated all her energy on listening, tension flooding through her body.

"I'm asking you, do you want to come to my place for the New Year this year?"

Zhou Xifan's voice rang clear.

— —

Xia Xingmian slowly exhaled the tight breath she had been holding, feeling discomfort in her chest, unsure if it was due to her fluctuating emotions.

She didn't even know what she was saying, only knew to ask, "Where?"

Zhou Xifan repeated for the third time: "I said, come to my place for the New Year! What's wrong with you? Did you put the phone to the wrong ear?"

"No, sorry."

Zhou Xifan hesitated. "Are you... okay?"

Xia Xingmian was silent for a moment and then asked, "Zhou Zhou, are you real?"

"..." Zhou Xifan said seriously: "I think you need to see a psychologist."

Hearing this, Xia Xingmian felt a sense of relief and laughed: "Are you joking? If so, it seems like I really woke up this time."

"I'm not joking, this isn't a joke."

"I'm not sick..."

"I'm not saying you are sick, but you're putting yourself in danger, you know?"

Xia Xingmian knew she wasn't in that serious a state. She stood up and walked to the window, opening it wide to let the cold wind blow to make her feel more awake.

"I just had a bad dream. I've been busy lately, the concert is about to start, so I might not have time for the holiday and stuff."

Since Xia Xingmian had changed the subject, Zhou Xifan considered it unwise to press her further, so they talked about things that would cheer her up.